Impatiens  plant named ‘DANCEL846’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘DANCEL846’, characterized by its dark pink and red-orange bicolored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Impatiens Hawkeri.

Variety denomination: ‘DANCEL846’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofImpatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens Hawkeri and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘DANCEL846’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel during December 2004. The objective of thebreeding program was the development of Impatiens cultivars withnumerous large flowers, excellent basal branching, and a compact-moundedgrowth habit.

The new Impatiens cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary ImpatiensHawkeri breeding selection designated NG-4-3747, not patented,characterized by its dark pink and red bicolored flowers, darkgreen-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growthhabit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietaryImpatiens Hawkeri breeding selection designated NG-4-3758, not patented,characterized by its pink and orange bicolored flowers, mediumgreen-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growthhabit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollinationduring July 2005 in a controlled environment at Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceJuly 2005 at Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘DANCEL846’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Dark pink and red-orange bicolored flowers;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in flower color and from plants of the male parent primarilyin flower color and foliage color.

Of the many commercially available Impatiens cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is HARMONY Pink Cream ‘Danharpkcream’,not patented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of ‘Danharpkcream’ in at least the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from        plants of ‘Danharpkcream’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have fewer flowers than plants of        ‘Danharpkcream’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘DANCEL846’. Theplants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 10 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘DANCEL846’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘DANCEL846’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in June 2009 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 10 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures weremaintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) duringthe day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during thenight. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandleswere maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens Hawkeri cultivar DANCEL846.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens Hawkeri breeding            selection designated NG-4-3747, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens Hawkeri breeding            selection designated NG-4-3758, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 8 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 24            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            compact, and mounded growth habit.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 14.5 cm. Width: Approximately 25.3 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Quantity of main            branches per plant: Approximately 4.        -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 9.6 cm.            Diameter at central internode: Approximately 5.0 mm. Length            of central internode: Approximately 2.2 cm. Texture:            Glabrous. Color of young stem: 144A with an overlay of 185A.            Color of mature stem: 144A with a strong overlay of 185A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 8. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement:            In whorls of 3 to 5 leaves.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem and            leaf blade is perpendicular to stem. Shape: Elliptic.            Margin: Serrate, ciliate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate.            Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf at center            of stem: Approximately 10.7 cm. Width of mature leaf at            center of stem: Approximately 3.5 cm. Texture of upper            surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely            pubescent on venation. Color of upper surface of young and            mature foliage: Closest to 139A with venation of 187B. Color            of lower surface of young and mature foliage: 187B with            venation of 187B.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.1 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 187B.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘DANCEL846’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            5 to 7 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single. Quantity per plant:            Approximately 9. Fragrance: None.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity            showing color per plant: Approximately 3.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately            2.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.4 cm. Color: 45A.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Round, cupped when first open with petals            turning downward with age. Width: Approximately 7.3 cm.            Depth: Approximately 1.9 cm. Borne: Above and below foliage.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Obovate. Aspect: Flat.            Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate.            Base of upper petal: Truncate. Base of lateral and lower            petals: Attenuate. Length of upper petal: Approximately            3.4 cm. Width of upper petal: Approximately 5.4 cm. Length            of lateral petals: Approximately 3.5 cm. Width of lateral            petals: Approximately 3.6 cm. Length of lower petals:            Approximately 3.7 cm. Width of lower petals: Approximately            4.1 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color            of upper surface when first open: 67B with base and center            of 45A on upper petal and a central stripe of 45A on lateral            and lower petals. Color of lower surface when first open:            45D. Color of upper surface when fully open: 67C with base            and center of 45A on upper petal and a central stripe of 45A            on lateral and lower petals. Color of lower surface when            fully open: Lighter than 45D.        -   Spur.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Length: Approximately 5.1 cm.            Diameter at proximal end: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at            distal end: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color:            145D with tip of 144A.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.            Length: Approximately 5.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately            2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145B often with a faint            overlay of 185A nearest flower attachment.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4 with one fused to base of            upper petal. Shape of lateral sepals: Ovate. Shape of lower            sepal: Ovate. Apex of all sepals: Acuminate. Length of            lateral sepals: Approximately 1.6 cm. Width of lateral            sepals: Approximately 9.0 mm. Length of lower sepal:            Approximately 1.9 cm. Width of lower sepal: Approximately            1.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces of all sepals:            Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces of lateral            sepals: 185A. Color of upper and lower surfaces of lower            sepal: Closest to 45D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per            flower, fused around pistil at apex. Anther shape: Hooded.            Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 158D.            Filament color: 155D with an overlay of N57B. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: 155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1            per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Stigma            shape: 5-pointed star. Stigma color: 187C. Style color: 144A            transitioning to 187A with age. Ovary texture: Glabrous.            Ovary color: 144A transitioning to 187A with age.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Impatiens has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plantnamed ‘DANCEL846’, substantially as herein shown and described.